PRO FOOTBALL

PRO FOOTBALL; Kicker Is Surprise for Jets, But They Could Have More

By JUDY BATTISTA

Published: September 1, 2001

The Jets faced fourth-and-3 on Philadelphia's 41-yard line Thursday night when Coach Herman Edwards, pondering a punt with the first half about to end, called place-kicker John Hall to his side.

''If you'll let me try a 59-yard field goal, I'd do it any time,'' Hall said later. ''Into the wind, in a parking lot. You don't get too many chances to do it.''

Hall took advantage of this chance, blasting a field goal longer than any he has made in the regular season -- it was good by at least five yards -- on a night when he was one of the few bright spots to emerge from the Jets' 13-12 loss in their final preseason game.

Hall, who looked to be out the door after he fell out of favor when Al Groh was coach, made three other field goals and barely missed a 50-yard attempt wide left in the third quarter.

But there may be bigger surprises to come from the Jets. Edwards said yesterday that James Reed, a seventh-round draft pick, would be the starter at nose tackle going into the regular-season opener on Sept. 9 against one of the best running backs in the game, the Indianapolis Colts' Edgerrin James.

Reed started against the Eagles and had two tackles on a night when the run defense was exposed as the Jets' weak link. Philadelphia gained 96 yards on 18 carries, an average of 5.3 yards a carry.

When asked what negatives came out of the preseason, Edwards was blunt. ''We're not real stout on the run right now,'' he said.

After watching film of the game, Edwards said the defense had made bad reads on at least a few of the Eagles' big plays, including Duce Staley's 25-yard bolt through the middle of the defense.

Reed, who was behind Maurice Anderson and Jason Wiltz on the depth chart when the projected starter, Jason Ferguson, got hurt, impressed coaches with his progress. He is undersized for a nose tackle at 6 feet and 280 pounds, but Edwards said the Jets had no plans to ask him to gain weight.

The Jets' coaches will decide whether Anderson or Wiltz survives the final cut to be part of the six- or seven-man defensive line rotation that Edwards plans to employ. It will very likely include one of them, plus Ellis, Eric Ogbogu, Rick Lyle, Shane Burton, John Abraham and Reed.

''He's got a tremendous motor,'' Edwards said of Reed. ''And he had really good effort. He did some good things when he was double-teamed. He's a rookie and he'll get better. He's done that thus far.''

The Jets will undoubtedly scan the flood of players who will be released by other teams, but it is highly unlikely that a team would release a starting-caliber nose tackle. Edwards said the Jets had had no trade talks for a nose tackle, either.

The Jets have to trim 15 players this weekend, and Edwards will announce at least some of those tomorrow. Kevin Swayne, who had two receptions for 29 yards Thursday night, has won one of the receiver spots, most likely leaving Desmond Kitchings, who had an outstanding camp, on the outside.

Edwards also declared what had become obvious in camp: Laveranues Coles, who has looked more confident in his second year, will start at receiver opposite Wayne Chrebet, having held off a challenge from Matthew Hatchette, one of the Jets' big off-season free-agent signings. Hatchette had ankle and groin injuries that kept him from practice for two weeks and forced him to miss the game against the Giants. But he started Thursday night and had two receptions for 38 yards.

''He's one of those guys who can jump over guys when covered tightly,'' Edwards said. ''He's been frustrated because he was hurt, but once he understands that he's going to be asked to do some things, I think you'll see a big improvement in him.''

EXTRA POINTS

Nose tackle JAMES REED (stinger) and running back LAMONT JORDAN (bruised ribs) received treatment and will be at practice Saturday. So will receivers WAYNE CHREBET (stiff back) and LAVERANUES COLES (shoulder), who sat out the game. . . . Coach HERMAN EDWARDS's biggest postgame praise was reserved for Jordan, a rookie who rushed 15 times for 86 yards. ''LaMont was outstanding,'' Edwards said. . . . Two linebackers with local ties -- DAX STROHMEYER, of Rutgers, and JOE TODD, of Hofstra -- are on the bubble for the final cut. Strohmeyer led the Jets with six tackles against the Eagles, but Edwards said special teams play would be weighed most heavily in deciding if they made the team. Each had one special teams tackle Thursday.